Mendota Municipal Code Ch. 13.08 Sewer Service System

For the purpose of this chapter the following terms shall have or include the meanings accorded to them by this section, unless it is apparent from the context that they are used with a different meaning:

"Alterations" means and includes any change or addition.

"City building inspector" means and includes the superintendent of public works of the city or his authorized deputy, agent, representative or inspector.

"Habitation" means a room or combination of rooms used or designed to be used for the occupancy of human beings.

"House connection sewer" means and includes that part of the horizontal piping beginning twelve (12) inches from the exterior of any building and extending to and including its connection with the public sewer.

"Lot" means and includes any piece or parcel of land bounded, defined or shown as such upon a plat or deed recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county of Fresno, and in accordance with the boundaries of such lot as bounded, defined or shown upon such recorded map, plat or deed; provided, however, that in the event any building or structure covers more area than a lot, as defined in this chapter, the term "lot" shall be deemed to mean and include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which said buildings are wholly or partly located.

"Public sewer" means and includes any sewer other than a house connection sewer.

"Repairs" means and includes the reconstruction or renewal of any existing part of a structure, or of its fixtures or appurtenances.

"Structure" means the group of buildings of a house-court.

(Prior code § 15.01.001)

All plumbing affecting the sanitary condition of any building or structure within the boundaries of any lot within the city shall be connected with a public sewer within thirty (30) days after the time when a public sewer line is brought within one hundred (100) feet of said property. All cesspools and septic tanks in any property within the city must be rendered inoperable and either backfilled or such other steps taken as may be approved by the city inspectors which will render them sanitary and safe.

(Prior code § 15.01.002)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to construct, install, build, lay, alter, rebuild, reconstruct, change or extend any house connection sewer, sewer line, sewer pipe, soil pipe, grease trap, sewage settling tank or other sewage appurtenance or facility, either on privately or publicly owned or possessed lands, without first obtaining a permit from the city building inspector to do so. The permit authorized by this chapter shall not be deemed, either expressly or impliedly, to authorize the making or altering of any connection with any public sewer of the city by any permittee under this chapter, it being the intent and purpose of this chapter that no such connection shall be made to a public sewer at a point where no special "Y" or "T" exists except by the city building inspector as provided in Section 13.08.220 of this chapter.

(Prior code § 15.01.005)

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed or construed to require the application for, or the issuance of a permit for the purpose of removing stoppages or repairing a leak in any public or house connection sewer, except when it is necessary to replace any part of such sewer.

(Prior code § 15.01.007)

The provisions of this chapter requiring permits shall not be construed to apply to contractors constructing sewers and appurtenances under contracts awarded and entered into by the city council of the city for the construction of sewers and appurtenances.

(Prior code § 15.01.008)

Any person, firm or corporation desiring a permit for any of the purposes enumerated in this chapter shall make application in writing to said city building inspector, giving such information as said inspector may require, on blanks to be furnished for that purpose, and if it appears therefrom that the work to be performed thereunder is to be done according to the regulations contained in this chapter and otherwise provided by law governing the construction of such work, a permit shall be issued upon payment of the fees as fixed by this chapter to the city clerk.

(Prior code § 15.01.006)

The basic monthly sewer charges for every connection, directly or indirectly to the Mendota sewer system shall be established from time to time by resolution of the city council. No less frequently than annually, the city finance director shall present to the city council a detailed summary of the operating results of the utility services provided by the city, including water and sewer. The director shall also prepare and present a projection of anticipated future revenues and operating costs, including capital improvements.

(Prior code § 15.01.011)

A sewer connection permit fee shall be paid to the city clerk of the city at the time of filing an original application for a connection permit under the provisions of this chapter. The application for a connection permit shall be made when applying for a building permit.

(Prior code § 15.01.009)

The city building inspector is empowered and directed to charge any additional and other fees prescribed by this chapter or code, under the conditions set forth in this chapter.

(Prior code § 15.01.010)

A. A sewer connection fee established by resolution of the city council shall be paid for each single-family residence. Where a subdivision is connected to the city sewer system, the fee shall be paid for each house contained therein. The fee is due and payable upon application for each building permit and sewer connection permit. Where a lot has adequate sewer lines and a meter from a previous structure since demolished, the remainder of the connection fee will be refunded to the applicant after all costs for labor and parts incurred by the city in the sewer connection are deducted.

B. Any single-family residence or subdivision lot, for which improvement facility fees have been paid in accordance with Chapter 16.36 of this code, shall be exempt from the payment of a connection fee under this section.

(Ord. 03-01 § 2, 2003; Ord. 93-13 § 1, 1994; prior code § 15.01.017)

A. In addition to any other fee or permit fee required by this chapter, a sewer connection fee established by resolution of the city council shall be paid for each unit in an apartment, trailer or motel. The fee is due and payable upon application for each building permit and sewer connection permit.

B. Any unit in an apartment, trailer or motel, for which improvement facility fees have been paid in accordance with Chapter 16.36 of this code, shall be exempt from the payment of a connection fee under this section.

(Ord. 03-01 § 3, 2003; Ord. 93-13 § 2, 1994; prior code § 15.01.018)

A. For industrial and commercial structures and developments, a sewer connection fee established by resolution of the city council shall be paid for each building connected to the city sewer system. The details of the proposed use of the structure must be reported to and investigated by the director of public works and the city engineer, who shall determine the connection fee consistent with the fee resolution.

B. The recommendation shall be based upon the principle of estimating the volume and quality of effluent at peak flow. They should determine the number of residential houses which would be expected under average use to produce a volume and quality of effluent at peak flow which would impose the same or an equivalent burden upon the city sewage system as the proposed commercial or industrial use. This number is the residential equivalent of the commercial or industrial use. The charge to the industrial or commercial user should be recommended to be the same as that to a subdivision with the same number of houses as the residential equivalent of the same use.

C. Any structure, lot or parcel in an industrial or commercial district, for which improvement facility fees have been paid in accordance with Chapter 16.36 of this code, shall be exempt from the payment of a connection fee under this section.

(Ord. 03-01 § 4, 2003; Ord. 93-13 § 3, 1994; prior code § 15.01.019)

Whenever any new territory is annexed to the city in which septic tanks or cesspools are in use, such use must be discontinued within six months after the effective date of the annexation and the cesspools or septic tanks backfilled or otherwise rendered inoperable, sanitary and safe in the manner set forth in this chapter. All structures which have been connected to such cesspools or septic tanks must be connected to the public sewer system within said six-month period. Where special circumstances require such action, the city council may extend the period of time for disuse of septic tanks and cesspools and for the connection to the public sewer system. Such extension shall not be for a longer time than is required by urgent and special circumstances.

(Prior code § 15.01.003)

No connection from any building or structure shall hereafter be made to any public sewer, which connection or any portion thereof shall be in, under or upon any lot served by such house connection sewer other than the lot on which such building or structure is located, nor shall any house connection sewer serve or be connected with, during its entire length to the public sewer, any buildings or structures which are not owned by the same person, firm or corporation.

(Prior code § 15.01.004)

Whenever the city council deems advisable, it may direct the city engineer and the public works director to reinvestigate and make a new report on any connection which may have significantly increased or decreased its impact upon the city's sewage system. After a new investigation and report, the city council may pass once again upon the residential equivalent of the use in question. Where a user requests a new investigation and report, the city council may at its discretion impose upon the user part or all of the costs of the investigation and report, as a condition to ordering such investigation and report.

(Prior code § 15.01.012)

Whoever makes a new connection to the sewer or water system of the city shall pay in addition to all permit fees, the actual costs to the city for any construction, pipeline, meter or other appurtenances furnished and installed by the city in making the connection. To cover these actual costs for sewer and water connection, a deposit of three hundred dollars ($300.00) shall be required at the same time the connection permit fees are paid. If after any investigation of the site and work required, the public works director for the city determines that the required deposit is insufficient for any particular application, he may recommend to the city council that a larger deposit be required. Any unused portion of any deposit shall be returned to the applicant within thirty (30) days of services commencing.

(Prior code § 15.01.016)

The city clerk shall keep in proper books an accurate account of all fees received under this chapter, giving the name and residences of the persons upon whose accounts the same were paid, and the date and amount thereof, which books shall be open for public inspection. The city clerk shall pay all fees received by him into the city treasury at least once each week, said funds to be deposited to the credit and benefit of the general fund of the city.

(Prior code § 15.01.013)

All work done under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to inspection. Notice must be given in writing to the city building inspector by the person, firm or corporation doing said work, or causing same to be done, immediately after said work is ready for inspection. Up to the time of the inspection all work must be and remain uncovered and convenient for the inspector to make a thorough examination. If any pipes are enclosed or covered in any way whatsoever, so as to tend to obstruct a thorough inspection of the drainage system, said obstruction must be removed upon notice to do so from the city building inspector, before an inspector shall be required to inspect the work. When, upon examination by the inspector, it appears that any such work is defective either in its construction or material, the same shall be made to conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter, in default whereof, the permit therefor shall be revoked by the city building inspector.

(Prior code § 15.01.014)

When it appears to the satisfaction of the city building inspector that any work mentioned in this chapter has been constructed according to, and meets the requirements of, all provisions of this chapter and other applicable laws, and that all the fees for the doing and inspection thereof have been paid, the said city building inspector shall cause to be issued to the person, firm or corporation constructing such work a certificate of final inspection, which certificate shall recite that such work has been done pursuant to the permit and has been constructed according to this code and that said work is in a sanitary condition. The city building inspector shall not issue such certificate of inspection unless the requirements of this chapter have been adhered to.

(Prior code § 15.01.015)

Upon the renewal or alteration of any public or house connection sewer, or upon the making of any repairs or additions thereto, if any new material is placed in such sewer, either in the original or in the altered, repaired or added part thereof, every such new part must be properly connected with and attached to the original part of such sewer, and if any materials are to be reset either in the old or new part of such public or house connection sewer, then both such original and such new additional parts, and any altered part whatsoever, must be made to conform in all respects to the rules and regulations prescribed in this chapter.

(Prior code § 15.01.030)

Any person or entity receiving any fee for work done as a plumber within the city limits must be fully licensed by the state of California. Prior to doing any work within the city, such person or entity shall file with the city clerk a copy of their license, license bond and proof of personal injury/public liability insurance in an amount not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00). Any person or entity doing work for a fee without having first filed the required documents with the city clerk shall be guilty of an infraction pursuant to Chapter 1.20 of this code.

(Prior code § 15.01.028)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to remove or cause to be removed, to injure or cause to be injured any portion of any public sewer, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole, or to open or enter, or cause to be opened or entered, any public sewer, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole; or to use or cause to be used, or to take or cause to be taken, any water from any flushing apparatus for any use whatsoever, without first obtaining a permit in writing from the city building inspector to do so.

(Prior code § 15.01.027)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to connect any swimming pool or tank to any public sewer of the city or house connection sewer leading thereto, except by special written permit from the city building inspector.

(Prior code § 15.01.024)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to connect any safe waste pipe from any establishment or piece of equipment directly to any public sewer of the city or house connection sewer leading thereto, but such safe waste pipe shall discharge into a water supplied sink or discharge outside of building.

(Prior code § 15.01.021)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to cause, suffer, allow or permit the exhaust from any engine, or the blow-off from any boiler, to be connected directly to any public sewer of the city or house connection sewer leading thereto, but such exhaust or blow-off shall first connect with a water-right sump which may in turn be connected to the public sewer.

(Prior code § 15.01.022)

No garbage, offal, fruit or vegetable or animal parings, corrosive substances, chemicals, oil, tar, grease, acid, ashes, cinders, sand, gravel, solids, rags, industrial waste, inflammable or poisonous or explosive liquids or gases or substances nor any drainage system or course carrying rain or drainage or surface water, or any other thing whatsoever whether specifically mentioned in this chapter or not, which would or could by reason of carrying matters in solution or by reason of precipitation or chemical action or clogging or obstructing or filling or otherwise, cause damage to the sewer system or which might necessitate or require repair or cleaning out or flushing of the sewer system, shall be discharged into the city sewer system.

(Prior code § 15.01.020)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation operating an establishment serving meals to suffer, allow or permit the wastes from the kitchen sinks to be connected directly to any public sewer of the city or house connection sewer leading thereto, unless grease traps, with a guaranteed capacity of twenty (20) pounds of pure grease, are installed with each kitchen sink outlet wasting into any public sewer of the city for establishments serving up to one hundred (100) meals per day, and grease traps with a guaranteed capacity of sixty (60) pounds of pure grease are installed for any establishment where more than one hundred (100) meals are served per day.

(Prior code § 15.01.026)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation operating a vegetable or fruit packing plant, or a private or public automobile or carriage wash rack, to permit any water or effluent therefrom to flow into any public or house connection sewer unless such structure shall be trapped by a sand trap constructed of concrete, to be constructed according to specifications approved by the city building inspector.

(Prior code § 15.01.023)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to connect any cellar drain or basement or yard shower directly with the soil or waste pipe, but such cellar drain or shower shall be trapped by a sand trap of not less than twelve (12) by twelve (12) inches and constructed of concrete. The walls and floor of every trap shall be not less than three inches thick, and each trap shall have a cast iron frame and grate cover. The water seal of such trap shall be constructed by inverting its waste pipe. A water seal of less than four inches is prohibited, and the minimum size of the waste pipe shall be four inches where trap is not vented. Such sand trap shall be cleaned as often as necessary. It is unlawful to operate or use such or any sand trap which is not positive and efficient.

(Prior code § 15.01.025)

Neither this chapter nor any amendments thereof shall be construed as imposing upon the city any liability or responsibility whatsoever for damage resulting from defective drainage systems or from the installation thereof, nor shall the city or any officer or employee thereof be held to have assumed any such liability or responsibility by reason of any acts or any inspections made or to be made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any amendments thereof or any other applicable law.

(Prior code § 15.01.029)